Hello 2020. An auspicious sounding year simply by the alliteration of the pronunciation, and the double-meaning suggesting “clarity”. If anything, this year has provided no clarity on what lies ahead for anyone around the globe, and yet gives great clarity that ideas and innovation will be the new “normal” in the future and beyond.
In healthcare, hospitals and physicians alike … in every type of practice and in every corner of the world … have been faced with challenges that were not modeled in medical school or recurrent training. And yet, through it all, the systems and the professionals have proven resilient and ready. In particular, physicians and medical professionals have truly embraced modern technology by incorporating virtual visits into their daily routine. With “necessity being the mother of invention”, private practices have “seen” patients through web-streaming platforms to offset the impact of empty waiting rooms and appointment calendars. Thus far, anecdotal feedback suggests this approach is working well for many.
However, when we go back to “normal”, is this approach scalable and sustainable? What does healthcare look like in a year … or five years … or in a decade? Patient needs and demand will continue, and concurrently the readiness of all healthcare services around the globe will change and perhaps advance … and that likely means an ongoing if not higher cost to support the new normal. Physicians, practices and hospital systems very soon will need to start planning – and implementing – new methods, new ideas, new platforms that help them maintain existing patient relationships while also providing an attractive solution to new patients who seek medical care. In the United States, patient-centric care incentives and penalties likely will remain, but there will also be a priority focus for hospitals and physician practices to capture and serve patient demand. Simply put, healthcare will need to focus on the revenue side of the business early in the new normal.
And to ensure that hospitals and practices are considered and selected, timely, effective communication is essential. Traditional and digital marketing activities will help bolster a focus on revenue, but direct patient conversations will greatly influence the selection of providers and facilities for individual medical needs.
And that’s where PREMEDEX can help. Our team of highly trained clinical and non-clinical care coordinators talk with thousands of patients every day. And with our robust Patient Manager and Remote Care Manager cloud-based platforms, our professionals can collaborate easily and seamlessly with your on-staff nursing teams to provide the highest level of quality patient care.
Contact PREMEDEX to see how you can plan for the future and be well-positioned for revenue growth in the new normal.